Tough Girl Podcast

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Saanvi Sita Mylavarapu, a seasoned hiker, backpacker, rock climber, and youth advocate for the great outdoors. Since the age of six, Saanvi has been exploring the stunning landscapes of the United States, and has completed some of the most challenging hikes in the country, including Kala Pathar, Half Dome, and Mt. Whitney. She recently accomplished the feat of reaching the Everest Base Camp, and is now gearing up for a 120-mile trek across the Tour du Mont Blanc in Europe this summer. Saanvi has hiked over 800 miles and has visited more than 25 National Parks, making her a true champion of nature conservation. Her passion for the environment has been recognized by national media outlets, who have featured her on the front page of newspapers and in articles in major magazines. As a National Park Trust Ambassador, Saanvi has been supported by the National Park Service, renowned conservationists, mountaineers, and wildlife photographers. She is also the founder of 'Young Roots', an environmental and ecology club at Frisco ISD, and runs 'Nature Worthy', a non-profit organization that aims to raise awareness of the benefits of connecting with nature.  Join us as Saanvi shares her insights on the transformative power of nature, and her vision for a more sustainable future.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.    Show Notes Who is Saanvi Moving from Dallas to Texas Planing to complete the Tour du Mont Blanc trek in Europe  Turning sixteen  Reflecting on her childhood and growing up  Her first road trip at 6 years old and visiting the National Parks Her love for hiking and spending time outdoors Enjoying the peace and quiet Feeling under pressure at school  Being self motivated and driven  Being a National Park Student Trust Ambassador  Going to the Junior Ranger Programs  Climbing Mt. Whitney and why it was so strenuous  Breaking through mental barriers  Feeling mental drained and how to change her state Getting into rock climbing and what she enjoys Hiking and climbing Half Dome and why it was so tough Being inspired by her mum Hiking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal Wanting to climb the mountains in the future Dealing with cold hands and feet Using the phrase “you can do this” Future dreams and ambitions  Preparing to hike Tour du Mont Blanc Doing high altitude running The Saanvi Speaker Series  The importance of spending time in nature  Founder of 'Young Roots', an environmental and ecology club Her views on carbon footprints and climate change The power of making little changes in their life Being inspired by Emily Harrington  How to connect with Saanvi Final words of advice    Social Media   Instagram: @chalkbagsntents     

Jen Price, is a former British Army Officer who spent the entirety of 2022 undertaking an extreme set of adventure and endurance challenges on behalf of the Veteran’s Foundation.  The solo challenge she set herself was to complete 12 challenges in 12 months, in quick succession. The challenges were multi-discipline and included the Devizes to Westminster international canoe race, an ironman, a multistage desert ultra-marathon, summit of Aconcagua, and a 1000 mile self supported Lands’ End to John O’Groats cycle. None of the challenges were events she had attempted before and, in total, she covered over 3500km and climbed two of the Seven Summits.  Jen has raised nearly £35,000 for the Veterans’ Foundation and she continues to fundraise in her spare time by speaking about the challenges at schools, universities and business. She also has two outstanding challenges to go this year (replaced due to severe weather) which she will also fundraise for: paddle boarding across the English channel and climbing the famous Matterhorn.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.    Show Notes Joining the Army in 2012 Why she joined the Army  Deciding to raise funds for the Veterans’ Foundation  Being inspired by the Tough Girl Podcast! Her role in the Army and being physical robust Doing cross country ski racing and competing for the Army Joining the cadets at university  Deciding to leave the army after 10 years How the dream was turned into a plan - the practical steps that were taken Starting with the desert marathon and building the rest of the challenges around it Paying for the adventures and challenges  Being able to borrow equipment to help keep costs down Being supported by her friends and family  Being frugal to keep costs down The stress of planning and doing challenges throughout the year Training for the variety of challenges  The challenges of the desert marathon (challenge 10) and feeling broken Self appreciation and not putting so much pressure on herself to achieve Dealing with the feelings of shame Her experience with climbing Aconcagua and the challenges she faced with the cold and the altitude 28% oxygen!! Doing a 1000 mile solo self supported Lands’ End to John O’Groats cycle The 2 remaining challenges left for 2023 The lessons learned from the challenges Sharing more about experience addiction  Taking a step back from adventuring and figuring out the next steps in her life If you’re not on an adventure, you should be planning your next one” How to connect with Jen Wanting to write a book about the challenges Final words of advice for other women and girls Not caring what other people think and why it can be powerful    Social Media Website: jennevolve.co.uk   Instagram: @jennevolve Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/team/teamridge      

Emily is an adventurer, solo traveler, mountaineer, quote collector, and all around lover of things that get people out of their comfort zones. Put on her first international flight at 3 weeks old, she's been adventuring in one way or another ever since.  From wandering the forests of Sweden alone at the age of nine, to solo trekking in the Himalayas of India, to joining the circus as a professional aerialist, Emily is a big fan of the "just get out there and do it" mentality. She considers it her mission in life to inspire others to go outside, travel, and get curious about everything. As John Muir so aptly put it, "going out is really going in.” Emily is a columnist and longtime contributor to Outside. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, Adventure Journal, REI, and Backpacker, among others.  Emily has visited every national park in the United States, and her book Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks, came out in February 2023.   About Feral: A bracing memoir about self-discovery, liberating escape, and moving forward across an adventurous and volatile American landscape. One year. One national park at a time. “After a decade as an assistant to high-powered LA executives, Emily Pennington left behind her structured life and surrendered to the pull of the great outdoors. With a tight budget, meticulous routing, and a temperamental minivan she named Gizmo, Emily embarked on a yearlong road trip to sixty-two national parks, hell-bent on a single goal: getting through the adventure in one piece. She was instantly thrust into more chaos than she’d bargained for and found herself on an unpredictable journey rocked by a gutting romantic breakup, a burgeoning pandemic, wildfires, and other seismic challenges that threatened her safety, her sanity, and the trip itself. What began as an intrepid obsession soon evolved into a life-changing experience. Navigating the tangle of life’s unexpected sucker punches, Feral invites readers along on Emily’s grand, blissful, and sometimes perilous journey, where solitude, resilience, self-reliance, and personal transformation run wild.” We first spoke with Emily on 17th December 2019. You can listen to that episode here - https://www.toughgirlchallenges.com/single-post/emily-pennington    New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.    Show Notes Who is Emily  Working as a journalist and writing for; The New York Times, The Guardian, Condé Nast Traveler and Lonely Planet Speaking to Emily on the Tough Girl Podcast - 17th December 2019. You can listen to that episode here Going back to early 2020 Saving up $30K for the adventure of a lifetime Having a goal to visit all 62 National Parks in the United States How Covid impacted her life and work as a travel journalist  Having a home base in LA and quitting her job Starting her adventure on 6th January 2020 Living out of her mini van #VanLife and what life was really like while on the road Being mindful of climate change and the impact her travel would have The transition to full time travel and living in a different way Having anxiety about travelling especially solo travel Expectations verses reality  The importance of having downtime while travelling Tips for managing her anxiety  Leaning into meditation, online therapy, and medication Being caught in the smoke from the wild fires  National Parks and the amount of people wanting to use the space The challenges of meeting people while being on the road and the challenges during covid Magical moments Adventuring with a partner and the impact on their relationship Spending time in Alaska Thinking about what home really means The writing experience and why it was like intensive therapy everyday for 6 months Reflecting back on the journey and the experience of writing the book The key takeaways from the experience The importance of rest and scheduling in downtime  Getting comfortable sitting with discomfort Making better choices and having more compassion Wanting to travel to meaningful places and learn more about herself  Deciding to move to Colorado and work full time as a writer Reflecting on her quality of life and wanting to spend more time in the mountains Plans for a second and third book How to connect with Emily  Final words of advice for women who want to go on a big trip or take on a new adventure   Social Media Website: www.brazenbackpacker.com  Instagram: @brazenbackpacker  Twitter: @BrazenBackpack Book: Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks   

Vivianette Ortiz is a Latina originally from Puerto Rico. She grew up in the beach and mountain town of Patillas, Puerto Rico. She grew up running the hills of her hometown, bodyboarding, loving the ocean, and playing hide-in-seek barefoot through the farmlands.  Vivianette moved to North Carolina at the age of 17. She is a dedicated mother, daughter, and granddaughter. For a long time, she worked countless hours daily with 2 or 3 jobs at a time. Her adventurous soul went dormant for many years due to everyday responsibilities. Since arriving in North Carolina she has always gone back to the island to visit family and enjoy the feeling of freedom there. Going back to the island would help the homesickness she felt here on the mainland. Due to Covid restrictions, her traveling ceased for a while she found herself extremely homesick and depressed.  Through social media, she found a North Carolina hiking group page. Discovering the outdoors again provided her with a connection to home. Her love for nature and the Latino community led her to be one of the founders of the group Latinos Aventureros en las Carolinas. She is proud to combine her love for the outdoors with her passion for the Hispanic community through her role as the Executive Director of Latinos Aventureros.  She has completed over 130 hikes throughout the Carolinas in 2022, and 76 hikes in 2021.  In 2022 was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting Peru, and completing the Inca Trail. She hopes to start the Appalachian Trail by sections in 2023.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.    Show Notes Who is Vivianette Her passion for going outside and travelling  Working as a disability rights advocate Growing up in Puerto Rico Being an ocean girl and her passion for the water Not being encouraged to spend time in the outdoors Being dedicated to work and working 2/3 jobs to support her family Being a single mother Moving to North Carolina at 17 years old The impact of Covid Being very depressed and looking for things to do Joining a social media friend for a hike Her first memorable sunrise hike on Roan Mountain  The gradual change after going on more hikes Finding her passion of spending time in the outdoors Practical tips and advice  Hiking with her children Starting Latinos Aventureros in October 2021 Building a camping gear closet  Being able to take families out camping  Doing the Inca Trail in 2022 Planning for 2 years  The challenges of the trail  Just keep going  The mental side of hiking  Why self motivation is important Plans for 2023 Finding education and training for the leaders The importance of resting and figuring out what your body needs Making time to go hiking on her own Hiking without an agenda Plans for section hiking the Appalachian trail in 2023 Support, sponsorship and funding for the Latinos Aventureros The Year of the Trail  Disability rights and hiking  The need for disability rights advocates  Looking up trails on line to see if they are accessible  All Trails App How you can use your voice  How to connect online Advice for women who want to get out hiking and spend more time in the outdoors Why it’s ok to ask for help Words of encouragement in Spanish    Social Media Instagram @vivi.la.exploradora Facebook - Vivianette Ortiz Facebook Group - Latinos Aventureros en las Carolinas Linktree - https://linktr.ee/latinosaventureros

On 5th June 2022 Laura set off on the back of a tandem, with husband Stevie, from the Brandenberg Gate in Berlin... 180 days later she returned having circumnavigated the World and with a new Guinness World Record!  But, the ride wasn't straightforward; with closed borders, sickness, monsoons, sub -10 degree temperatures and a motorcycle collision that nearly ended the trip it took everything to reach the finish line on target.  Laura blogged and updated social media throughout the trip and relied on her skills in project management and from her ultra-distance background to make the trip a success, as well as the ultimate team work of surviving 6 months on a bike with her husband. We first spoke with Laura on 27th January 2022 - You can listen to that episode here.    New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.    Show Notes Who is Laura  Spending 6 months cycling around the world on a tandem bicycle and breaking the Guin Stats from the challenge  Starting on the 5th June 2022 Needing to cycle 18,000 miles Visiting over 21 countries Speaking to Laura previously on the Tough Girl Podcast - 27th January 2022 - You can listen to that episode here  Getting to the start line and feeling ready? Planning for over 18 months to get to the start line Being in an accident 2 weeks before the start Dealing with the risks of cycling on the road  Getting back on the bike - sooner rather than later The start line in Berlin Settling into a cycling routine  What the daily routine looked like The challenges on the journey  Day to day challenges - from logistics, navigation, accommodation, food  Dealing with the ongoing pressure  Boarder closures and being flexible with changing plans The crash in Malaysia and why it was a critical moment Not knowing if they wanted to continue  Being open and honest with each other  Being as prepared as possible  Flying to Australia  Impacts on their relationships  Advice for couples/partners who adventure together Losing time and distance and getting behind schedule while riding in India  Needing to make up 6 days and 600km How to up the pace? Highlights from the trip Riding through New Zealand in 8.5 days The route Finishing the trip - the challenges in the final days Getting back safely and doing what they said they were going to do The achievement….. Adventure blues and what happened next Recovering physically  Quick Fire Questions Tough Girl Buffs (Black, Grey & White - Send me a DM £15 P&P UK Only) Tandem WOW - Catherine Dixon (Cat) and Rachael Marsden (Raz) cycling around the world to set a new tandem WR!  How to connect with Laura Writing the book Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you with your next challenge Don’t under estimate what you can do Why you might surprise yourself with what you can do   Social Media   Website: www.stelatandem.com   Instagram: @stela_tandem  Facebook: SteLa Tandem Round the World Record  Twitter: @StelaTandem  Youtube: SteLa Tandem     

Shandi’s love of running began when she was very young, and throughout her life, it was something that always helped her to cope with stress and anxiety. However, as she got older, she became consumed with the idea of proving something to others, and the pressure of the pursuit caused her to have a nervous breakdown during the 2013 Boston Marathon. During this episode Shandi shares more about how she got into running, how running the NYC Marathon changed her life, especially the second time she ran it, when she ran a Boston qualifying time of 3 hours and 12 mins.  After qualifying for Boston, she set herself the goal of breaking a 3 hour marathon. Shandi put a lot of pressure on herself to perform well.  Unfortunately things did not go to plan, she realised early on she wasn’t going to hit her goal, but she still managed to cross the finish line, where she was immediately ushered to the medical tent. Her body had finally given in and later on she would find out that she had had a nervous breakdown.  *Please be advised that in this episode, we will be discussing the Boston Marathon bombings, which took place on April 15, 2013. This event resulted in the tragic loss of three lives and injured hundreds of others. We understand that this topic may be sensitive and triggering for some listeners.  Our guest, Shandi, will be sharing her personal experience of being at the 2013 Boston Marathon, and the impact it had on her mental and physical health. If you feel that this topic may be difficult for you, we encourage you to prioritise your emotional well-being and listen at your own discretion. Shandi shares more about the aftermath, how she needed to heal her body and mind.  She did this by making big changes to her life; from leaving her job as a television producer and moving to be closer to the mountains. She also started to freelance as a creative producer.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.   Show notes Who is Shandi Working as a producer  Being based in Salt Lake City, Utah Having a passion for the outdoors  Getting into running at a young age Feeling good while moving her body Growing up in Canada and being taught to ski by her mum Switching to snowboarding in college Being drawn to the snowboarding lifestyle Starting her career and making big changes Work for ESPN (Entertainment & Sports Programming Network) in Bristol, Connecticut  Studying broadcast journalism at college How her career goals have changed Finding a love for editing  Figuring out what she wanted to do  Advice for women who want to get into production Find people who want to support you  Get experience and keep going  Being away from the mountains and spending more time running  Deciding to do her first marathon  Running NYC Marathon and loving the experience  How the race changed her life What running the NYC Marathon is like The power of putting your name on your shirt The amazing support from the crowds Wanting to qualify for the Boston Marathon (3hr 35) and following a training plan Shaving 30 mins of her marathon time and running 3hr 12 mins  Tactics to running a fast marathon Breaking up and feeling depressed Respect and love to the past boyfriend Having a year and a half to train Working with a run coach and wanting to break 3hrs Having lots of goals and wanting to do well Dealing with severe anxiety and not being able to sleep Not being well on the finish line at Boston Marathon 2013 Being in the medical tent when the bombs went off Going though a nervous breakdown Managing to find her dad What happened afterwards Going on medical leave for 6 months Being in the “push through” mentality  Needing to make big changes in her life Healing her body and mind Deciding to move to Seattle and become a freelance producer Using Yoga to help heal her nervous system Her mentality now being more attentive to her mental health Why nothing is more important than her health Figuring out what is the most important to you  What do producers do? Being a creative producer  Outessa Summit  Mini documentary with Rachel Collet - Reflect and Reset. Watch on YouTube How to connect with Shandi Needing to update her website with her latest projects #InItTogether   Plans for 2023 Final words of advice   Social Media Website www.shandikk.com  Instagram @shandikk     

Nicky Button was born in Gloucester and grew up in Worcester. Having a very happy childhood. Nicky was always last to be picked for any teams at school and was the most uncoordinated and non sporty child being told to go and swim after a term of tennis when she still hadn’t hit a ball. Her teens and twenties removed around horses and children , whilst she ran a yard starting and schooling young horses and teaching people to ride alongside being a foster mother.  In 2000 with an eight year old daughter she moved to Surrey where she spotted a group of people kayaking on a local canal, she went along to the club and heard only two parts of the sentence, Wednesday nights are adults only, whitewater training and we go to the pub afterwards. Six months later she was staring at her first White water river in Wales. Several swims later and at the end of the river she was hooked.  The kayaking totally changed her life and she soon realised that whilst she certainly wasn’t the most proficient, she had found her tribe. Through the kayaking she was invited to help on set on Midsummer Murders and the rest as they say is history, she retrained learning swift water and rope rescue, working at heights and confined spaces, with fire and setting up stunts and rigging. There then followed some incredible years where she felt that she was being paid to have the best time in life.  In 2013 after going away skiing she returned and was unable to see her daughter across the room. Four months later she’d had her driving license removed which knocked onto no job and then no home. Her life felt as though it was falling apart.  She moved to South Devon and stormed along the South West Coast path. A few years on and she was part of walking groups for people with Visual Impairment and encouraging people to get out walking.  On moving to Worcester in 2021 she met an amazing group of strangers who became friends, a trip up Ben Nevis was followed by entering her first Ultra challenge a 50km over Exmoor. When she completed that she looked for her next challenge.  During lockdown she’d dreamed she’d walked from Scotland to Devon, she decided to make this a reality and so Nicky’s most marvellous ridiculous adventure was born. Walking from the Orkney Islands to the Scilly Isles. Solo and unsupported.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.    Show Notes 54 year old mum of 1 Walking from the Orkney Islands to the Scilly Isles Starting the challenge on April 1st (April fools day!) Not being into team sports and not enjoying the outdoors Preferring reading about adventure  Discovering individual sports  Her passion for horses and riding Joining The Pony Club  Training to be a nanny Running away to work with horses Teaching riding at Pony Club and Riding for the Disabled  Bringing up her daughter Moving to Surrey  How joining a Canoe Club changed her life How her views on fear changed  The link between fear and excitement  Starting to work in tv production Making her career change at 38 Over coming the limiting beliefs of other people’s thoughts Learning how to run and getting fit for search and rescue  If it’s important to you, you’ll find a way  How her life changed in 2013 Being diagnosed with a rare genetic eye disease called Stargardts Now being registered as Severely Visually impaired S.V.I /blind Losing her driving licence, her job, and her home in the space of 4 months Dealing with the trauma  Moving back home to Devon and spending time on the South West Coast Path Action for Blind People - now connected to RNIB Joining a local walking group and how that helped process her thoughts and feelings  Getting to a place of acceptance? How her life is different now What she can see through her eyes Completing her first ultra challenge 50km over Exmoor  How it changed her self confidence  Navigation  The idea for - Nicky’s most marvellous ridiculous adventure Sharing the adventure and making it a reality  The route Talking with people along the way about sight loss Self funding and working on a tight budget Hoping that people will come and join her  Starting in the Orkney Islands Fears and concerns before the start of the trip Wanting to prove to herself that she can still do big thing Having a sense of purpose  Final words of advice for women What do you actually want to do?     Social Media   Instagram: @blind.girl.walking  Facebook: Nicky’s most marvellous, ridiculous adventure  Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/page/nicky-button-16797715248 

Sasha DiGiulian began climbing in 1998 at 6 years old. She won the World Championships for Female Overall, a Silver in the Bouldering World Championships, as well as Bronze in the Duel.  Sasha was also the undefeated pan-American Champion for over a decade. Outdoors, Sasha is the first North American woman to climb the grade 9a, 5.14d. Additionally, she has on-sighted multiple 8b+’s, 5.14a’s, ascended groundbreaking, multi-pitch routes of over 1500 feet of 8c climbing, and accomplished multiple First Ascents and over 30 First Female Ascents around the World. Sasha is a graduate of Columbia University in New York City where she studied Non-fiction Writing and Business.  She is on the Board of the Women’s Sports Foundation, and is an Athlete Ambassador for Right to Play, Up2Us Sports, Access Fund, and American Alpine Club. She is the founder of SEND Bars and Female Focused Adventures, and is a co-founder of RoamTV.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.    Show Notes Being based in Boulder, Colorado  Growing up in the Washing DC Area Her early years  Being sporty from a young age Getting into climbing at 6 years old Discovering climbing as a competitive sport Winning her first competition  Falling in love with the sport  Being supported by her mum Dealing with the pressure of performing and needing to be perfect Train so hard that even on a bad day you can still succeed Dealing with pressure as a professional athlete Using the pressure to her advantage Building her own brand  Deciding to go to college Spending weekends in NYC training  Making the transition from climbing indoors to big walls outside  Feeling more motivated when climbing outside In 2012 - doing her first big wall expedition in the Dolomites  The lessons learned from big wall expeditions  Type 2 fun!! Her next chapter in climbing How does it work with expedition planning Building out the team  Logistic - getting to the location, base camp, food, equipment etc Launching a nutrition bar company - SEND Bars The importance of fuelling her body especially being celiac (gluten free) Planning the route from the ground How to connect with Sasha Read Sasha’s blog posts  Working on a secret plan for 2023 Words of advice to inspire you to step outside your comfort zone Being committed to what makes you passionate   Social Media Website sashadigiulian.com Instagram @sashadigiulian  Facebook @sashadigiulian Twitter @sashadigiulian Youtube https://www.youtube.com/sashadigiulian

India in her own words: “I am India Cook, an avid Atlanta-based runner, marathoner, race announcer, YouTube vlogger, podcast host, and RRCA-certified run coach. I have a love for running and road racing, but I also have a passion for encouraging and guiding runners and those who aspire to become runners. I advocate for all paces and body types in the space of road racing. My running journey started in 2008 on the quest to lose weight and also engage in a healthy social activity. Since 2008 I have completed distances from 5K to marathons.  Throughout my running journey, I observed that there were limited running resources created by women of color to help individuals get into running or resources for those already engaged in the sport.  Therefore, I developed a vlog “Miles From India” on YouTube. The vlog’s purpose is to educate, inspire, and motivate runners. Viewers can find tips and how-to videos that aid in helping runners navigate running effectively. Within the running community, I also find it important to ensure diverse running experiences and stories are highlighted.  In 2018, I became a podcast host of, The Run Duo Podcast, with my co-host, Tommy Mitchell. On our bi-weekly podcast, we talk all things running as we educate and entertain our listeners and also interview casually to elite runners.  In addition to content creation, I am also a race announcer and event emcee. I am the amazing voice that you hear at the start and finish line of a race that motivates you to keep going and cheers you in at the finish. As a fellow runner, I find it important to feed positivity and love during all points for racing and I am your fun energetic voice that does that.  On the coaching side of the sport, I have a focus on helping ladies run confidently in any phase of their run journey, my background in mental health not only allows me to have a positive and healthy relationship with running but also enables me to help athletes build a similar relationship as well. I find it essential to make the sport of running less intimidating and relatable for all levels.  My goal is to make the sport of running more diverse, inclusive, and less intimidating to my listeners and viewers.  I will continue to use my training, experience, and voice to guide others in the community of running through coaching.  I take the approach that everyone's journey is unique, and we should celebrate every step, stride, and mile. I believe that running not only boosts physical health, but it also rejuvenates your mind and fuels confidence”    New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March.    Show Notes Who is India Being focused on cheerleading and dance  Doing a little bit of track and field Focusing on sprinting Not being a fan of running Having a negative relationship with distance running Starting with a 10k race Wanting to start increasing her distance with running Leaving college and not being active Being in graduate school and wanting to be a pro cheerleader Doing a season of semi-pro cheerleading Figuring out that cheerleading was not for her  Using running as her outlet to decompress from stressful work days Doing her first race in 2008 - The Peachtree Road Race  Starting to race every month Running her first half marathon in 2013 Being surrounded by amazing people who were encouraging her with running Not having a clue when she started running  Struggling to find information that suited her needs  Why it can be intimidating entering the world of running The advice she wish she had received when she first starting her running journey  Why movement is what’s important Not training appropriately for her first half marathon Calling herself a runner The high points and low points of marathon running  The mental experience of running a marathon Running the NYC Marathon  Running the Virtual Boston Marathon in 2021  Tips and tricks for grit and determination while running  The importance of knowing your why Staying in the present and focusing on the current mile Thoughts on the Virtual Boston Marathon  Taking advantage of the unique opportunity  Running a marathon independently and why it’s more of a challenge Her running journey and becoming a run coach The Run Duo Podcast Wanting to interview people from the run community who aren’t elite athletes  Goals for 2023 and how it’s a transition year Moving her body and what that looks like How to connect with India (see social media links below) Final words of advice    Social Media Website: www.milesfromindia.com Instagram: @i_of_endigo_runs The Run Duo Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Therunduo Link to all places: https://linktr.ee/milesfromindia YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/c/milesfromindia      

Maddy is a 72-year-old runner, cyclist, mother of four, and grandmother to three. Her goal is to fight aging and show that we can do things long after we thought we couldn't. Maddy has always enjoyed being outside since she was a child. At school, she enjoyed sports and spent a lot of time swimming with her brother. Maddy has been running for more than four decades. She began running in 1977 at the age of 26. She was working for the military in a child guidance clinic in Munster, Germany. Maddy was just running for pleasure, and prioritises her children after work. She was a social worker before becoming a teacher. She joined the Harriers in the 1990s and began running seriously in 1997–98. She has competed in every imaginable race, as well as loads that no longer exist. In 2017, Maddy competed in over 30 races, winning the majority of them in her age category (V65). From 2004 to 2018, she ranked in the top 50 in the UK for her age group at distances ranging from 5K to marathon. She finished 14th among V65 women in the UK in the half marathon in 2017. Maddy also finds time to coach and support other runners, and she has helped organise local parkruns. She set up Mansfield Runners in 2012 with Sue Bellingham's help. They started it when Run England was promoting beginner's groups. It is now a RunTogether group.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March.    Show Notes Who is Maddy 72 years young Running since 27 Waiting for bi-lateral hip replacements Her early years in the 1950s Getting a TV when she was 7 yrs old Getting a car when she was 11 Cycling everywhere  Getting into running while working in West Germany The restrictions on women’s running and women not being allowed to run long distances  Starting to run every week around the woods Why she loves running and being out in nature  Moving back to England in 1981  Signing up for the first Nottingham Half Marathon  Having 4 children between 1983 and 1990 Joining Mansfield Harriers Running during pregnancy and after having children  Loving yoga and CrossFit  Dealing with injury Going back to the early 1980s 1984 - when women were allowed to run the marathon  Taking 25 yrs of running before signing up for her first marathon  Running the London Marathon in 3hr 27mins (over 50) Deciding to stop running road marathons Training by herself  Effort Sessions every Tuesday and Thursday Mindset and mental strategy while running  How times and knowledge have trained Getting into coaching Mansfield Runners  The Stilton Stumble  Dealing with Osteoporosis  Why you need to keep moving when you have arthritis  Advice for new runners How to connect with Maddy Having younger running friends  The isolation that happens when your older Entering the Bath Half Women being veterans from 35 Being competitive  Counting while running Embracing technology Magical memory from running Racing with her daughter in the Italian Alps   Social Media Instagram @collingemaddy